Palmerston North Stories - Page 2

Kiwi Stories

Palmerston North stories

Spark to launch satellite-connected cell tower project

Spark and Lynk have begun a NZ project for a network of satellite-connected cell towers, aiming to maintain connectivity during crises.

By Shannon Williams • 3 min read • Thu, 30th Nov 2023

Health and Safety

Unsafe machine costs worker his arm

A missing emergency stop and poor cleaning procedures left a worker without an arm, prompting a GBP £297,000 fine for Dunlop Drymix.

By Michael Curreen • 3 min read • Fri, 20th Oct 2023

Northland

Property market showing ‘signs of revitalisation’

Home values are edging higher as first-home buyers and tighter supply lift activity in several centres, despite wider uncertainty.

By Michael Curreen • 12 min read • Tue, 10th Oct 2023

Risk & Compliance

Lessons still to be learned from Pike River

Recent deaths and serious incidents show many workplaces still lack proper planning, risk assessments and emergency preparedness.

By Michael Curreen • 4 min read • Tue, 26th Sep 2023

Northland

House prices up for first time since downturn

National home values have edged up 0.5% this quarter, but most cities are still below year-ago levels as demand stays patchy.

By Michael Curreen • 13 min read • Mon, 11th Sep 2023

Wellington Regional Council

New trains to sit idle 94% of the time

Passengers could see little benefit from the refurbished Capital Connection fleet, which is expected to be idle most of the time without new services.

By Staff Writer • 8 min read • Mon, 12th Jun 2023

Northland

Average New Zealand house price back to $900,000

Values are still falling in several centres, but slower declines and firmer migration are hinting the market may be nearing bottom.

By Michael Curreen • 16 min read • Tue, 9th May 2023

New Zealand Labour Party

No reprieve for persistent property price falls

New Zealand home values fell for a 10th straight month in January, leaving prices 7.2% below a year ago and raising further downside risks.

By Michael Curreen • 6 min read • Wed, 1st Feb 2023

Risk & Compliance

Camera footage shows truck drivers asleep at the wheel

Verified camera data shows 125 fatigue sleep events a day on New Zealand roads, with truck and car drivers nodding off more often.

By Michael Curreen • 3 min read • Thu, 26th Jan 2023

Supply Chain

Rise in house construction costs easing

The pace of homebuilding inflation is slowing, though costs in New Zealand’s main centres still rose 11.3% over the past year.

By Michael Curreen • 3 min read • Mon, 16th Jan 2023

Bank of New Zealand

Wellington at ‘epicentre’ of property downturn

Mortgage holders may welcome easing nationwide declines, but Wellington is still leading the slump, with Porirua posting the steepest falls.

By Michael Curreen • 5 min read • Wed, 30th Nov 2022

GFC

House prices not going up any time soon

Further official rate rises are likely to keep mortgage costs high and delay any rebound in New Zealand’s housing market.

By Michael Curreen • 8 min read • Tue, 1st Nov 2022

Internet of Things

Spark appoints Tony Agar as Group Sales Regional Lead

Spark Business Group appoints Tony Agar as Group Sales Regional Lead for Northern region, with Michele Wong replacing him as IoT Lead.

By Zach Thompson • 2 min read • Fri, 7th Oct 2022

Property Market

School zones now a bigger real estate consideration

Desirable school zones are propping up prices and fuelling buyer demand as families hunt for homes with stronger future resale prospects.

By Michael Curreen • 2 min read • Thu, 29th Sep 2022

GFC

June sees hat-trick of property value drops

Higher mortgage costs and tighter lending are set to keep house prices under pressure, with June marking a third straight monthly fall.

By Michael Curreen • 7 min read • Tue, 5th Jul 2022

Property Market

Well-timed relief for first home buyers

Tighter lending and higher mortgage costs have pushed first home buyers to a seven-year low, even as government support rules are loosened.

By Michael Curreen • 8 min read • Sun, 22nd May 2022

Property Market

What have two years of Covid taught us about property?

Sharp falls never came, but tighter credit and rising mortgage rates now threaten to turn New Zealand's Covid-era property boom into a buyer's market.

By Michael Curreen • 5 min read • Thu, 24th Mar 2022